The Columbus Rapids Indoor Soccer Men and Women’s Teams see improvement in year two
May 30, 2023 ● By Richard Holdridge
The National Indoor Soccer League came into existence in 2021 that featured professional indoor soccer in Columbus and for the first time in history, the NISL fielded a women’s professional soccer team.
After seeing success in the inaugural season in the NISL, the Columbus Rapids returned in year two in pursuit of competing for a championship, both the Men and Women’s Teams have competed at the highest level, the Rapids Men’s team as able to get an impressive 7-0 victory over the Defending NISL Champions Fayetteville Fury.
Rapids Men’s Player/Head Coach Stephen McIntosh brings experience and leadership to the pitch as was able to pick up his first victory as Head Coach on April 16th against the Tampa Bay Strikers during the Home Finale at the Columbus Civic Center. As of today, the Rapids Men’s Team currently is in Fourth Place in the NISL with a 4-7 overall record. With two games remaining, the Rapids look to make a playoff push as only three of the five teams will make the playoffs. The leading goal scorer for the Rapids is Cesar Tahuil with 6 goals and Goalkeeper Freddie Zamudio has been solid behind the net which attributes to the experience at goalkeeper from last season.
The Columbus Rapids Men’s Team finished the 2022 season with a 5-12 record and fell in a heartbreaker to the Memphis Americans in the NISL Semi-finals 9-8. The Rapids will face the Fayetteville Fury in Fayetteville, NC and The Tampa Bay Strikers on April 30 to finish the regular season.
The Rapids Women’s Team looks to compete for a championship in the NISL. The goal is to reach the playoffs and right now they are 7-6 overall and currently in third place. The team built off the success from last season and has improved overall thanks to the addition of players from the Rome Gladiators, who have taken a hiatus for the 2023 season.
The Women’s Head Coach is also a player/coach, Carlyle Banks, one of the top goal scorers from last season, also with the addition of her former teammate at Rome Callie O’Conner and the region NISL MVP Oliva Jarrell, the trio has combined for 30 of the 36 goals scored by the Rapids this season.
The Columbus Rapids Women’s Team finished the 2022 Regular Season with a 7-11 record but lost to the Rome Gladiators 8-3 in the NISL Semi-final Game.
The NISL Playoffs will begin in May with the times and location to be determined.